Help! Prius won't start without key

Dipena · 06-28-2008, 06:12 PM

My 08 is about 3 months old and has <4000 miles on it. My daughter drove it today. She apparently had it in auxiliary power mode to use the Nav system (ie, not fully powered up). She thinks she left it on only 15-20 minutes or perhaps less. After that she couldn't get the car to turn on, but she saw the icon with the key flashing, looked it up in the manual, and then got it to start using the key. Drove it about a half-hour after that without problems.

But it still won't start without the key engaged. What happened? How do I fix this? I love my keylessness and just want my baby to be OK again...

Thanks for your help.

Dianne

JOS · 06-28-2008, 06:31 PM

Look under the steering wheel, see a button labeled "KEY"? (assuming the button is in the same spot on your '08 vs. my '06) Is it depressed? If it is then you have the keyless entry locked out (no pun intended). Simply reset it and all should be back to normal (keyless entry and starting available).

Dipena · 06-28-2008, 06:48 PM

Wow! This is the second time you guys have bailed me out. That was it, exactly, JOS. Thank you.

qbee42 · 06-28-2008, 08:13 PM

One other piece of information: the little red flashing key has nothing to do with needing the key. It shows that the immobilizer is active, which is part of the anti-theft system.

Tom

**TonyPSchaefer** · 06-29-2008, 11:28 AM

Good call, JOS. It's not the first time someone's bumped the button with their knee or something.

Bear68 · 06-29-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbee42

One other piece of information: the little red flashing key has nothing to do with needing the key. It shows that the immobilizer is active, which is part of the anti-theft system.

Tom

Bear in mind there are TWO lights which have a key symbol. One is red and simply shows the immobiliser is active. The other is a larger amber light which indicates the SKS (Smart Key System) has not detected the key in the car. Checking the SKS button located below the steering wheel is the first step and usually solves the problem. The main purpose of the button is to allow you to deactivate the SKS when leaving the car for an extended time (two weeks or more) It helps to avoid running down the 12V aux battery.

06-28-2008, 06:12 PM	#1
Dipena Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,548 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 17 Thanked 51 Times in 39 Posts Friends: 4	Help! Prius won't start without key My 08 is about 3 months old and has <4000 miles on it. My daughter drove it today. She apparently had it in auxiliary power mode to use the Nav system (ie, not fully powered up). She thinks she left it on only 15-20 minutes or perhaps less. After that she couldn't get the car to turn on, but she saw the icon with the key flashing, looked it up in the manual, and then got it to start using the key. Drove it about a half-hour after that without problems. But it still won't start without the key engaged. What happened? How do I fix this? I love my keylessness and just want my baby to be OK again... Thanks for your help. Dianne

06-28-2008, 06:31 PM	#2
JOS Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 24 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Help! Prius won't start without key Look under the steering wheel, see a button labeled "KEY"? (assuming the button is in the same spot on your '08 vs. my '06) Is it depressed? If it is then you have the keyless entry locked out (no pun intended). Simply reset it and all should be back to normal (keyless entry and starting available).

06-28-2008, 06:48 PM	#3
Dipena Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,548 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 17 Thanked 51 Times in 39 Posts Friends: 4	Re: Help! Prius won't start without key Wow! This is the second time you guys have bailed me out. That was it, exactly, JOS. Thank you.

06-28-2008, 08:13 PM	#4
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 10,486 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 95 Thanked 392 Times in 290 Posts Friends: 10	Re: Help! Prius won't start without key One other piece of information: the little red flashing key has nothing to do with needing the key. It shows that the immobilizer is active, which is part of the anti-theft system. Tom

06-29-2008, 11:28 AM	#5
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,506 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 168 Times in 109 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Help! Prius won't start without key Good call, JOS. It's not the first time someone's bumped the button with their knee or something.

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